Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-04
led tho bunco man on.

ing to him." he said with rustic gar
rulity, "but l am very different man.
My name is Orion and / am from
Cleveland"
That's singular, too" said the 9TH
err, affecting MORE embarrassment than
ever, "I'm sure you will excuse my
asking the question, but is it Henry
Ortorn 2 My sister met young
gentleman of that name in Cleveland
last summer and she's been talking
about him ever since. 1t is impossi-
BILE that you are Henry Orton?"
"Under the circumstance" return
ed the Frozen Dude in his best man
ner, "Pm very sorry to be obliged to
admit that am not Henry Orion.
Ny name is isaac Orion"
The young man begged pardon
some more and blushed a great deal,
and was lost in the crowd in Broad
way.
Billy knew that the next move in
the game would be for the bunco
mans pal to come up and address
him by the name he had given the
other, and he said that his heart
bounded with exultation and he be-
gan to frame in his mind the manner
in which he would write his story
about them. But he waited fully a
quarter of an hour, and as no one
spoke to him he began to fear that his
new acquaintance was not crook aft
err all. and walked away. He had
not reached the corner of Twenty
third street, however, when middle
aged man of medium stature, with
iron gray hair, suddenly turned out
of the swarm in the middle of the
sidewalk after passing him, and seiz-
ed his hand.
IL declare" he said in measured,
but cordial tones, IF this isn't little
Ikey Orion grown up to be man !!
When did you come down, and how
are all the good people of the protest
city on the lakes?"
Billy's mobility of features stood
him in good stead this time, for he
had to swallow hard to keep himself
from laughing.
Don't know me. I'll wager?" cried
the second bunco gentleman, merrily,
before Billy had chance to speak,
but still shaking his hand. "Well,
perhaps it's no wonder, came to New
York a long while ago to make my
fortune and, by Jove, I've made it
too. New York's the place after all.
But haven't told you yet that am
Douglas Peabody, nephew of the
President of the Stock Yard bank.
l guess you'll remember inc now."
"Why, yes, certainly" said Billy
vaguely, as if he felt he ought to
know Mr.. Douglas Peabody but didn't
quite remember him.
"Well, l am delighted to see you
down here" said Mr.. Peabody. 81
was just on my way to Delmonico's to
luncheon, won't you come and have a
chop and pint of Chablis with me ?
Do, / insist"
The Frozen Dude accepted the in
vitation, but the bunco man was too
fly to go to Delmonico's, where IA detec-
tive is always on watch at the door.
He walked up to the corner of
Twenty-sixth street on the opposite
side of Broadway, however, and then
stopping suddenly, he said 4:
"Ab, my boy, I'm going to take
you to place where they serve the
daintiest luncheon in New York.
Beats Del's all hollow" And he led
the way to an Italian cafe in Twenty
eight street. Here they had a lunch
con with two kinds of wine that cost
the gentlemanly crook little more
than $40. While they were slipping
their black coffee Mr.. Peabody re-
marked:
by the way, I've just won valu-
able oil painting in lottery, and'I
was going down to Fourteenth street
to have it sent up this afternoon.
Shall we take cab dowp there ?
Perhaps you'd like to look at it, if
you've nothing else to do"
Billy didn't care if he did, and in
a few minutes they were bowling
down Broadway. l don't imagine
that bunco men lavish as much ex-
pense upon every victim they pick up
but the appearance of the Frozen
Dude was imposing, and the CONVEX
sation concerning his wealth and ex-
pectations had not lowered him in the
estimation Of his new friend Billy
says that he actually caught Mr..
Douglas Peabody chuckling to him
self in the cab, on their way to Four
tcenth street, with delight at having
caught 50 gulliable sucker" as the
crooks generally term their prey.
The cab stopped at big house be-
tween Seventh and Eighth avenues,
and Billy followed Mr.. Douglas Pea
BODY into n back room. There were